I was present at a discussion when someone asked an expert/instructor in martial arts what type of attitude one should project if one should find themselves in a less than savory neighborhood. He had the preconceived notion that he should come off, as a highly trained individual puffing out his chest, so nobody would mess with him. The instructor told him, that he himself when in a potentially dangerous situation, both starts talking to himself and answering himself in a loud voice projecting the image he is missing a few marbles. He said this tended to disarm people more, who would often go out of their way to avoid him, even the ones who might seek him harm. Pete